GUME-a group for people who grew up in Middle East
Growing up in Middle East-80s
GUME a group to unite people who grew up in Middle East in one platform.
At one time, the Middle East was a place to go. The reason being Oil and time being 70s.Suddenly Saudi Arabia changed. Life was different there. They went to other countries to work:
• Iraq
Syria
• India.
India was a destination if somebody in Middle East wanted to get a good life, away from poverty. India was under the British and had Pakistan and Bangladesh with it. Many people from Saudi Arabia worked as pearl divers.
A fact not known by outsiders. There is road in Bombay (Mumbai) called Mohammad Ali Road and a Netflix film by same name made me aware of this fact. This road has a history of about 250 years. It was named by a Muslim activist and advocater of Khilafat movement Mohammad Ali Jouhar. The place has market which offers 24X7 service in Ramadan.
If you are visiting Mumbai in Ramadan don’t miss to visit his road.
Restaurants and food:
• Nalli Nihari at Chinese and Grill
• Kebabs at MasahAllah
• White Biryani at Noori Mohammad
• Noorani Milk Center
This road was associated with people from Kuwait and Saudi Arabia s they came to trade and make their fortune. (1940s).
The 70s and rush to the gulf
The late seventies saw people from Bangladesh, Pakistan and India rushing to the gulf:
• Saudi Arabia
• Kuwait
• Iraq
• Iran
• Libya
• Yemen
Saudi Arabia became the place to be. In late 70s (1977), Jeddah had semi modern buildings along with lot of desert in the city. The roads in localities were at first not and later on in 1978 Koreans make the roads. They were not known for Electronics then, the Japanese were the experts in electronics. In the 1980s once you buy TV brand like National Panasonic and Sony, it was good for the next 20 to thirty years. But it was more expensive and great event. Like people were announcing if they bought a TV or fridge.
The TV brands of the 1980s in Middle East:
• National (Matsushita Electronics),Panasonic
• Sony
• Sharp
The best electronics came from all of the world. Well if they are like home appliances of lower quality, it was associated with Taiwan. (Small electronics category). These were sold in the footpaths.
Shopping Mall:
• Caravan market-might have bought LEGO set from there(an uncle gifted)
• Sarawat came around 1983.
• Safeway
• Middle East Shopping Center
• Al Amoudi Center
We have discussed about the memories in Jeddah in 1980s in an earlier post.
The environment of the 80s was different, no smartphones, no internet, no social media but we had a great expatriates community in Jeddah.
People came from:
• Egypt(Masri)
• Pakistan
• Bangladesh
• India (Hindi). **
• Yemen
• England
• United States
• Canda
• Sudan
• Nigeria
** The people from Hyderabad were favored (in comparison) because the Nizam of Hyderabad used to donate money to Saudi Arabia, for repairs of Holy Mosques. (Before Oil Boom). King Saud bin Abdul Aziz went to India to personally thank the Nizam. (1954).
The places to hangout:
• Al Balad
• Sea Beach
•
ROI of working in Middle East (Saudi,Kuwait,etc)
Everybody went to make alivinghood or make a fortune. For people in Indian Subcontinent ROI was much higher.
People with no land in the city after working for 15-20 years in Saudi Arabia affords land and makes 10 story buildings at his home land. Thereby roles reversed where tenant becomes a Landlord and an owner of a building. The same service in their homeland would not have made it possible to buy assets or have as much wealth, if they had worked in their home countries. (Except business).
The expatriates gained by
• Buying land in home countries. A land bought in the 80s in Bangladesh gave return of 9900 %.
• Immigrating to US and Western countries(Canada,Australia,New Zealand)
• Making businesses.
Example:
• Ambani-78.7Billion $(Mukesh Ambani)
• Lulu group-5.3 billion $.
Ambani
Dhiru Bhai Ambani
At 16 went to Yemen to work as Petrol Pump attendant. He saves money later goes back to India and invests wisely.
Lulu Group
Travels in 1973 to UAE and opens a super market.
Many people around the world benefitted and the most attractive thing was:
• Security
• Quality of People
• Positive mindset
• Honesty
• A good nice environment among expatriates.
Later on every body moves to their home countries or other countries in the West.
The community we had in Middle East during late 70s to 2000 can’t be ever found.
GUME
This led to creation of face book groups:
- GUME (Grew up in Middle East).
Facebook group join (if you grew up in Middle East). Fb link.
Criteria:
- Grew up in Middle East-Saudi, Kuwait,UAE,Qatar,Bahrain,etc.
- in 1970s,1980s,1990s or 2000.
- 1 Post about experiences in Middle East when growing up (before joining).
- Follow rules of FB group.
If you grew up in 80s, you would be GUME80.
The Main idea was from: Born in 70s, Grew up in 80s in Middle East
FB page-https://www.facebook.com/born70sgrewupME
Group:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/747424965725829
GUME80B70